A gardening charity is calling on green-fingered residents in Dumbarton and the Vale to transform an unloved local space into a green haven this summer.

The Royal Horticultural Society's Greening Grey Britain scheme is offering up to 50 intergenerational gardening projects in the UK £500 worth of plants and materials as well as expert advice to help get their plans off the ground.

Potential projects should help improve health and wellbeing, address environmental issues or support local wildlife.

This might include turning forgotten littered corners into vibrant wildflower meadows, lining car parks with trees to slow down storm water or turning disused areas into productive gardens with food to share in the community.

Liz Stewart, RHS Community Outreach Manager, comments: “In 2018 the RHS Greening Grey Britain scheme helped nearly 3,000 people with their greening projects and supplied over 5,000 plants.

"We’d love to hear from communities interested in improving a local space this year and encourage them to get their bids in.”

Last year’s funding recipients included Scottish social enterprise, The Ridge, which built a new therapeutic ‘Sanctuary Garden’ bursting with sensory planting to be enjoyed by people with dementia and their families.

Materials provided to successful projects may include plants, seeds, tools, gardening accessories, planting containers, materials to create planters, peat-free compost and soil enhancers.

As the project is inter-generational, applications must demonstrate how young people will be involved, as well as who else will be taking part.

The deadline for applications is midnight on 28 February 2019. To apply visit rhs.org.uk/ggbwithcommunities to apply.